In this post you will not only find the answer to the common question, “What is a unit study?”, you will also discover the top three reasons why homeschoolers should use them. You’ll quickly learn that home educators spend a lot of time searching for the “best homeschool curriculum.” Spoiler alert: it doesn’t exist. I will elaborate on that statement, but first let’s get you the information you came here for.
WHAT IS A UNIT STUDY?
A unit study takes a deep dive into one topic and allows a child to take in information in multiple modalities and allows them to demonstrate their understanding in ways that align with their style of learning. Unit studies integrate the traditional school subjects by enabling children to practice reading, writing, math, technology, science, social studies and communication skills through the lens of a focused topic of interest.
With planning and careful implementation, unit studies can replace a traditional curriculum in all subject areas. They can also simply serve as enrichment, a break from your regular homeschool routine, or as an opportunity to use your child’s interests to maximize their learning.
Now that you know what a unit study is, let’s talk about what it is not.
WHAT IS A UNIT STUDY IS NOT
A unit study is not a curriculum, a text book or even an assigned reading selection. It does not involve rote learning or memorization. Good unit studies do not include mindless worksheets or mundane tasks. Simply put, unit studies are not boring. Which brings us to the first of three reasons why you should use unit studies in your homeschool learning.
THREE REASONS TO USE UNIT STUDIES
#1 As mentioned above, they are not boring! Because unit studies are typically based on curiosity, wonder and interest, homeschooled children find the work they are doing to be engaging. When children are interested in a topic, they do not see learning as a chore but instead something they enjoy.
#2 Unit studies make it easier to homeschool children of different ages. Topics can be explored at different developmental stages and from different angles with some shared experiences. For example, a younger learner can focus on penguins or polar bears, while an older learner dives into the impact of climate change on the polar regions. Both children can enjoy documentaries on Antarctica or listening to an audio book such as Byrd and Igloo: A Polar Adventure.
#3 They meet the individual needs of each child. The problem with traditional curriculum is that it is designed to be a one-size fits all resource. As you know, each child is unique in their strengths, challenges, interests, and learning styles. This is why the search for the “best homeschool curriculum” leads many families to finding the “most okay-ist homeschool curriculum” and accepting its flaws and weaknesses.
One of the biggest benefits of a home education is the ability to replace standardized education with a customized education that will excite, engage and meet the individualized needs of each child.
